AN UNEXPECTED TRIAL Can you imagine the scene in that home in Zarephath? Can you hear the widow's questions? "What have I done to deserve this? First my husband died. Now my only child dies too. Why has God done this to me?" Many of us may have had that same attitude in various situations. There have been times when one trial, one test after another, has piled in on top of us. How easy it is to think then, "I've had enough! Why me anyway?" Those occasions are not easy to endure. But what comes through is Elijah's faith. Notice verse 19. What does faith do? Faith keeps calm in a crisis. No doubt Elijah was deeply moved. Yet he knew his God and that this further test had been allowed for their good. (See Ro 8:28) Next, faith takes the trial to God (vv.18, 20). That was Elijah's place of refuge. He might have questions but he knew to whom he could take them - to God Himself. Do we always do that or do we take our questions to everyone else first? Faith asks God to resolve the crisis. Faith asks God to do what is needed in the situation. Elijah knew the power of his God. He asked for a miracle that had never happened before. He dared to ask God to bring the boy back to life. What a request! We are sometimes afraid to ask God for big things. Elijah wasn't. He asked for a drought. God sent it. He asked for resurrection. God gave it. He asked for fire from heaven. God let it fall. He asked for rain. God allowed it to come again. Don't be afraid to ask God for big things, if that is what is really needed. God answered Elijah's prayer and what was the result? The woman believed in Elijah's God. That is what speaks to the unbelievers. We pray, God answers and they see what God can do. It could be the means of bringing them to Christ. Our faith is in a great God. Keep your eyes on Him. WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. |
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